CVE-2023-3426 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This is a detailed overview of CVE-2023-3426, including its description, impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

Understanding CVE-2023-3426

CVE-2023-3426 is a vulnerability identified in Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.81 through 7.4.3.85, and Liferay DXP versions 7.4 update 81 through 85. This vulnerability revolves around the organization selector feature not checking user permissions properly, leading to potential risks for authenticated remote users.

What is CVE-2023-3426?

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-3426 allows authenticated remote users to exploit the organization selector in Liferay Portal and Liferay DXP, enabling them to access a list of all organizations without the necessary user permission checks. This lack of authorization verification poses a security threat to the confidentiality of the affected systems.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3426

With a CVSS base score of 4.3 (Medium severity), this vulnerability highlights a security concern in Liferay Portal and DXP. If exploited, it could result in the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive organizational information to authenticated remote attackers, compromising confidentiality.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3426

The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper user permission validation in the organization selector feature of the affected Liferay Portal and DXP versions. This oversight allows remote authenticated users to bypass authorization checks and retrieve organization details, potentially leading to unauthorized data access.

Vulnerability Description

The organization selector in Liferay Portal versions 7.4.3.81 through 7.4.3.85, and Liferay DXP versions 7.4 update 81 through 85 fails to enforce user permission checks, enabling remote authenticated users to obtain a list of all organizations.

Affected Systems and Versions

Liferay Portal: Versions 7.4.3.81 - 7.4.3.85
Liferay DXP: Versions 7.4 update 81 - 7.4 update 85

Exploitation Mechanism

Remote authenticated users can exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the organization selector feature in the affected versions without the required authorization, gaining access to sensitive organizational data.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-3426 and enhance system security, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and patching recommendations should be followed.

Immediate Steps to Take

Organizations using the impacted Liferay Portal and DXP versions should review and restrict access to the organization selector feature to authorized users.
Monitor user activities related to organization data retrieval to detect any suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement a strong access control policy to enforce proper user permissions throughout the system.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify and rectify authorization vulnerabilities proactively.

Patching and Updates

Liferay users are advised to apply security updates and patches provided by the vendor to mitigate the CVE-2023-3426 vulnerability.
Stay informed about security notifications and advisories from Liferay to address potential vulnerabilities promptly.

By understanding the implications of CVE-2023-3426 and implementing appropriate security measures, organizations can safeguard their systems against unauthorized access and data breaches.